Dawn Dance Weekend - Staff

In addition to our fantastic regional talent we are delighted to have the following headliners:

Crowfoot originated in 2003, after a fortuitous meeting at a festival in Boston. They soon after became a touring band, playing throughout the US, Canada, and the UK. They have gained a reputation both on the concert stage and on the contra dance circuit for their trance-like grooves, subtle interplay, and unstoppable energy. Crowfoot weaves musical influences from England, Ireland, Québec, and the Appalachian Mountains into a captivating fusion that delights dancers and listeners alike. Into this meeting ground of traditions, they incorporate their own distinctive original compositions and songs. Adam Broome (guitar, cittern, vocals) was born and raised in rural England to a life full of music, theatre and dance. Adam was inspired by the folk scene in the mid-seventies to take up the guitar and begin writing songs and tunes. Completely self taught, his unique playing style is influenced by exploration into musical genres as diverse as Renaissance and Reggae. Jaige Trudel's (fiddle, cello, vocals) love for creating music was evident from an early age. She began playing the violin at six years old, and later took up the cello. After nine years of classical study she discovered an affinity for Celtic music, and began fiddling for local dances while absorbing repertoire and styles from other traditional musicians. Her own technique has apparent Irish and Appalachian influences coupled with a strong rhythmic drive and a sweet, clear tone. Nicholas Williams (flutes, accordion, piano, vocals) studied world music, composition, and improvisation at York University in Toronto. Since graduating in 1998, he has immersed himself in the traditional dance music of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Québec, as well as the classical music of North India. He has performed across North America and the U.K., and has recorded as a producer and a guest artist on many CDs, including two solo releases.

Goldcrest: Three seasoned musicians of national reputation and steeped in the folk dance traditions of Appalachia, New England, and the British Isles come together to form the band Goldcrest, named for a British songbird with close relatives in the Americas. Daron Douglas combines the precision and tone of a classical violinist with the energy and soul of an Appalachian fiddler. She grew up in the Appalachian hills learning traditional ballads from her grandmother and studying classical music through college. Daron has been on the staff of numerous CDSS dance camps and at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. Daron also plays with dance bands Foxfire and Misbehavin' , with pit orchestras and blues bands. Paul Oorts is much in demand on the dance circuit for his driving world rhythms, improvisations and stylistic versatility. Paul plays an astonishing array of instruments including mandolin, tenor and five-string banjo, cittern, musette accordion, dulcimers and guitars in many different tunings and styles. A native of Belgium, he is well versed in Flemish and continental European music and performs regularly with his wife, flutist and dulcimist Karen Ashbrook. Paul also founded, conducts and arranges music for Carillon, a hammered dulcimer orchestra. Dave Weisler has built a national reputation for his rhythmic and innovative piano playing. At home in a huge range of styles, Dave plays for concerts and dances of many sorts: contra, swing, vintage, couple dance, English and Scottish country dance and Viennese waltz. He has performed at the Kennedy Center as well as at festivals and dance camps across the US, Canada, Scotland and England. Dave has played on over a dozen recordings, many featuring tunes and songs he wrote.

Rick Mohr is a caller and choreographer of contra dances, fiddler, and morris and sword dancer now based in Philadelphia, PA, after many years in New England. He's enjoyed calling and writing contra dances for many years, with the pleasure of leading dance weeks and weekends throughout the US plus forays to Denmark and Canada. Rick has written an extensive collection of contra dances which he has published on the web. He also has developed a keen interest in grid squares, which combine the best features of contras and squares. He's had the pleasure of dancing morris and rapper with a succession of fine teams, and the honor of teaching rapper classes at Pinewoods and Mendocino dance camps. Rick has had a long career in software development and a longtime interest in clean energy.

Joseph Pimentel is a New England native recently settled in Washington, D.C. As a popular caller at dance events spanning at least 34 states, and several countries, he draws on a broad repertoire of English country and contra dances. His masterful calling combines clear teaching, infectious humor, high energy level, and passion for the dances. He is known for his "English as a second language" workshops that bring contra dancers painlessly into the world of ECD. Joseph has been an active dance organizer in Ann Arbor, MI, Columbus, OH, Houston, TX, and on the national board of the Country Dance and Song Society. Several of Joseph's own dances are avid travelers, too, and are published in "The Cardinal Collection." When not calling or dancing, Joseph is often chasing birds.